Nectarine tree named &#39;Andes Nec-4&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree named “Andes Nec-4” which has fruit that is similar to the ‘6B-170’ nectarine that is white in flash color. The variety is distinguished from the ‘6B-170’ by reaching out higher content of soluble solids, by more extended red blush of the nectarine surface, by slower pulp softening rate during the last two weeks before the commercial harvest, by a higher postharvest life potential, and by a balanced acid/sweet flavor. ‘Andes Nec-4’ can maintain its quality after 40 days in cold storage.

Species: Prunus persica (Nectarine).

Cultivar name: ‘ANDES NEC-4’.

This new cultivar resulted from controlled hybridization between the nectarine ‘6B-170’ (♀) and the peach ‘78-R-121’ (♂) performed in 2009 at Maipú, Metropolitan Region, Chile (latitude −33°78′S, longitude −70°64′S, altitude 210 m above level. This tree was first asexually propagated on July 2012, and tested on a block of 10 cloned trees in the same experimental station at Maipú and in El Tambo, VI region of Chile. The new variety differs of his female progenitor ‘6B-170’, due it reaches higher content of soluble solids, reaching up to 17.5 whereas ‘6B-170’ seldom reaches more than 11.0; also because the blush of ‘Andes Nec-4’ covers 90-100% of its surface, while ‘6B-170’ seldom covers more than 60%. ‘6B-170’ is also a white fleshed nectarine that in postharvest lasts no more than 14-21 days in good conditions, whereas ‘Andes Nec-4’ can maintain quality after 40 days in cold storage. On regard of its male progenitor, the selection ‘78-R-121’ is less productive than ‘Andes Nec-4’, it has high acidity and yellow flesh, whereas ‘Andes Nec-4’ is a balanced sweet/acid cultivar, reaching ratios around 10 to 12.

Distinctive characteristics of the variety: Semi upright plant growth, medium to high vigor. Fruit round, symmetrical, solid 90 to 100% red blush. Harvest period 30 days before ‘August Red’.

This cultivar main feature is a slow pulp softening rate during the last two weeks before the commercial harvest. This feature enables delaying harvesting, pursuing the increase of the fruit size and soluble solids content without affecting their postharvest life potential. Secondly it shows a high postharvest life potential, which can reach up to 40 days at 0° C. while maintaining its initial sensory quality. From a sensory point of view this is a variety of medium to low acidity with a balanced sweetness/acidity ratio and in general an average overall sensory quality. The variety is not susceptible to “chilling injury” and therefore can be used for exporting to distant markets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The drawings of the nectarine of the present variety are color photographs:

FIG. 1 shows typical specimens of the whole fruit in skin color and form, on tree, and typical leaves;

FIG. 2 shows a nectarine tree named ‘Andes Nec-4’; and FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are two photographs that show two enlarged views of typical specimens of the fruit and leaves on the tree of FIG. 2.

CHARACTERIZATION OF ‘ANDES NEC-4’ NECTARINE

-   Tree:     -   -   1. Size.—Medium, similar to ‘Bonanza’. An 8 year old tree is             4.3-4.5 m high shaped as an open vase, 2.5-3.0 of diameter.         -   2. Vigor.—Medium, similar to ‘J. H. Hale’. Shoots reach 20             to 50 cm on regular spring/summer growing period.         -   3. Habit.—Horizontal, like ‘Albertina’. It is well adapted             to open vase training.         -   4. Flowering shoot thickness (excluding brindilles).—Medium,             similar to ‘Redhaven’. The typical and observed flowering             shoot diameter is 0.4-0.6 mm.         -   5. Flowering shoot length of internodes.—Medium, similar to             ‘Redhaven’. The typical and observed flowering shoot             internode length is 2.4-3.0 cm.         -   6. Flowering shoot coloration.—There is present anthocyanin             coloration in the zone exposed to sunlight, reaching a light             red color, that in coordinates a*, b* and L* of the CIELab             space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 46.1, 12.0, and             10.9, respectively, but in the lower part of the shoot the             anthocyanin coloration is weak, similar to ‘Springtime’,             reaching a light brown color, that in coordinates a*, b* and             L* of the CIELab space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to             37.9, 8.2, and 12.1, respectively. (McGuire, R.G. 1992.             Reporting of Objective Color Measurements. Hortscience.             27(12): 1254-1255).         -   7. Flowering shoot density of flower buds.—Medium, similar             to ‘Michelini’, reaching in an average year 25-36 flowers/30             cm long shoot.         -   8. Flowering shoot.—General distribution of flower buds: In             groups of two or more, similar to ‘Redhaven’.         -   9. The trunk of an 8-year old tree shows a 12-15 cm             diameter, measured on 50 cm above the ground, the bark             texture is smooth with few lenticels, and the bark color is             dark brown, that in coordinates a*, b* and L* of the CIELab             space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 44.0, 3.1, and             10.2, respectively.—         -   10. The primary branches diameter reaches 6-8 cm in an             8-year old tree, and the color is light brown, that in             coordinates a*, b* and L* of the CIELab space color             (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 49.7, -2.0, and 23.6,             respectively.—         -   11. Vegetative buds shape and color.—Acuminate, 4.8-7.5 mm             length, color brown that in coordinates a*, b* and L* of the             CIELab space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 98.3,             −6.6, and 29.3, respectively. -   Flower:     -   -   12. Type.—It has a showy type, similar to ‘Robin’, reaching             a whole diameter of 2.7 to 3.0 cm, and ovary is settled 0.45             to 0.55 cm low the calyx Showy, similar to ‘Robin’.         -   13. Calyx color of inner side (opened flower, before falling             of petals).—Pale yellow, similar to ‘Robin’, the color is             classified as in coordinates a*, b* and L* of the CIELab             space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 60.1, 12.4, and             25.9, respectively.         -   14. Corolla predominant color (inner side).—Medium pink,             similar to ‘Fuzalode’, classified in coordinates a*, b* and             L* of the CIELab space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to             87.2, −1.1, and 10.7, respectively.         -   15. Petal shape.—Round, similar to ‘Springtime’.         -   16. Petal size.—Medium, similar to ‘Robin’, 1.1 to 1.6 cm             diameter.         -   17. Petals number.—Five, similar to ‘Redhaven’.         -   18. Stamens position compared to petals.—Above 0.5 to 1.0             mm, similar to ‘Redhaven’.         -   19. Stamen number and length.—There are 35-40 stamens per             flower in average 1 cm, of white-cream color, in coordinates             a*, b* and L* of the CIELab space color (McGuire, 1992)             corresponds to 92.2, −3.6, and 9.8, respectively.         -   20. Stigma position compared to anthers.—Same level, similar             to ‘Crimson Gold’.         -   21. Pistil.—There is normally 1 per flower, 12 mm length and             white cream color according to in coordinates a*, b* and L*             of the CIELab space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to             62.7, 3.5, and 10.0, respectively.         -   22. Anthers pollen.—Present and abundant, similar to             ‘Redhaven’, in number 34 to 40, and the characteristic color             is classified in coordinates a*, b* and L* of the CIELab             space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 85.2, 4.2, and             44.5, respectively.         -   23. Ovary shape.—Pubescence is absent, similar to             ‘Fuzalode’, green color classified as CIELA, and round             shape. -   Leaf:     -   -   24. Leaf blade length.—Long, reaching 12-16 cm long.         -   25. Leaf blade width.—Medium, reaching 4.5-5.5 cm width.         -   26. Leaf blade.—Ratio length/width: Medium, similar to             ‘Early Sungrand’, reaching a ratio of 3.5.         -   27. Leaf blade shape in cross section.—Flat, similar to             ‘Mayred’.         -   28. Leaf blade recurvature of apex.—Absent, similar to             ‘Merril Sundance’.         -   29. Leaf blade angle at base.—Acute, less than 90°, similar             to ‘Springtime’.         -   30. Leaf blade angle at apex.—Medium to acute, similar to             ‘Earlyred’.         -   31. Leaf blade color.—Green, similar to ‘Robin’, classified             in coordinates a*, b* and L* of the CIELab space color             (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 37.5, -7.9, and -16.1,             respectively on the upper surface and in coordinates a*, b*             and L* of the CIELab space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds             to 58.5, −5.7, and −14.1, respectively, in the lower             surface.         -   32. Petiole length.—Short, similar to ‘Redhaven’, reaching             2-3 mm.         -   33. Petiole.—Two to four nectaries present, similar to             ‘Redhaven’.         -   34. Petiole shape of nectaries.—Reniform, similar to             ‘Redhaven’.         -   35. Petiole predominant number of nectaries.—More than two,             similar to ‘Everts’. -   Fruit:     -   -   36. Fruit size.—Medium, similar to ‘Sunhaven’, ranging             between 150 to 210 g.         -   37. Fruit shape (in ventral view).—Round, similar to             ‘Redwing’. The observed fruit length parallel to the suture             is 5.5 to 6.5 cm and width perpendicular to the suture is             6.0 to 7.0 cm.         -   38. Fruit shape of pistil end.—Plane, similar to ‘Redhaven’.         -   39. Fruit symmetry (viewed from pistil end).—Symmetric,             similar to ‘Morettini’.         -   40. Fruit prominence of suture.—Weak, similar to ‘Redhaven’.         -   41. Fruit depth of stalk cavity.—Shallow, similar to             ‘Robin’, ranging between 5-6 mm.         -   42. Fruit width of stalk cavity.—Medium, 1.8-2.0 cm.         -   43. Fruit ground color.—Greenish yellow, classified in             coordinates a*, b* and L* of the CIELab space color             (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 61.9, 5.4, and 30.2,             respectively, similar to Precoce de Hale' when is mature.         -   44. Fruit over color.—Present.         -   45. Fruit.—Hue of over color: Red, classified as CIELAB,             similar to ‘Red Diamond’.         -   46. Fruit pattern of over color.—Solid pattern, similar to             ‘Flavorcrest’.         -   47. Fruit extent of over color.—Large, reaching 100%.         -   48. Fruit pubescence.—Absent.         -   49. Fruit thickness of skin.—Medium, similar to ‘Madame             Girard’.         -   50. Fruit adherence of skin to flesh.—Strong, similar             ‘Babygold 5’.         -   51. Fruit firmness of pulp.—Firm, reaching 11.5 to 13.0             pounds when mature. 52. Fruit ground color of flesh: White,             classified in coordinates L, Hue and Chroma of the CIELab             space color (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 78.4, 64.7 and             19.5, respectively.         -   53. Fruit anthocyanin coloration directly under skin.—Weakly             expressed.         -   54. Fruit anthocyanin coloration of flesh.—Absent or very             weakly expressed, similar to ‘Robin’.         -   55. Fruit anthocyanin coloration around stone.—Absent or             very weakly expressed, similar to ‘Springtime’.         -   56. Fruit texture of the flesh.—Not fibrous, melting flesh             type, similar to ‘Redhaven’.         -   57. Fruit sweetness.—High, reaching 17.5 to 18.0.         -   58. Fruit acidity.—Low, ranging between 0.7 to 1.2% malic             acid when fruit is ripe. -   Stone:     -   -   59. Stone size compared to fruit.—Medium, ranging between 10             to 13 g.         -   60. Stone shape (in lateral view).—Obovate, similar to             ‘Rubidoux’. The length is 2.8 cm and width 1.5 cm.         -   61. Stone intensity of brown color.—Medium, classified as in             coordinates a*, b* and L* of the CIELab space color             (McGuire, 1992) corresponds to 27.5, 16.9, and 7.6,             respectively.         -   62. Stone relief of surface.—Pits similar to ‘Madame             Girard’.         -   63. Stone grooves, similar to ‘Madame Girard’.—         -   64. Stone tendency of splitting (at peak harvest).—Absent.         -   65. Stone adherence to flesh.—Present, similar to ‘Sweet             Gold’.         -   66. Stone degree of adherence to flesh.—Strong, similar to             ‘Vivian’. -   Phenology:     -   -   67. Time of leaf bud burst.—Early, similar to ‘Springtime’.             On Southern Hemisphere is between 10th to 15th September.         -   68. Time of beginning of flowering.—Medium, similar to             ‘Redhaven’. On Southern Hemisphere is between 10th to 18th             August.         -   69. Duration of flowering.—Short, 5-7 days.         -   70. Time of maturity for consumption.—Medium, similar to             ‘Fairhaven’. On Southern Hemisphere is between 10th to 15th             January.         -   71. Tendency to preharvest.—Absent.         -   72. Pest/disease resistance/susceptibility.—This genotype is             not genetically resistant to any common pest and disease of             peach, as Mildew, leaf curl, bacterial canker, aphids,             thrips or, Oriental moth.         -   73. Fruit characterization is on table 1.—

TABLE 1 Fruit characterization of nectarine ‘Andes Nec-4’ Firmness Har- (Lb) Soluble vest Blush Equatorial Shoul- solids SEASON Date (%) Diameter ders Suture Tip (° Brix) 2013-2014 01/03  90 13.0 12.5 13.9 12.9 18.0 2014-2015 01/12 100 12.0 12.7 13.0 13.6 17.2 2015-2016 01/07 100 11.8 12.7 12.8 12.3 17.5

GENERAL TECHNICAL NOTES

Very good outward appearance. Excellent color coverage. Fruit round, no tip. High productivity. Excellent flavor.

CONCLUSIONS

After four years of evaluation, the variety continues to show its outstanding characteristics: very good productivity, good size, good flavor and good external appearance. High potential for export purposes for Asian countries because of its white flesh and its exceptional post-harvest life potential. 

Having thus described and illustrated the new variety of nectarine tree, I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is similar to nectarine ‘6B-170’ by producing nectarines which are white flashed, but distinguished therefrom by reaching out higher content of soluble solids, by more extended red blush of the nectarine surface, by slower pulp softening rate during the last two weeks before the commercial harvest, by a higher postharvest life potential, and by a balanced acid/sweet flavor. 